Machine for folding stovepipe blanks



- 1,636,803 July 26 1927- J. M. BROWN MACHINE FOR FOLDING STOVEPIPE BLANKS,

Filed Oct. 6, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 1 July' 6 927 J. M. BROWN MACHINE FOR FOLDING STOVEIPE BLANKS Filed Oct. 6, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet g llll llll

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J. M. BROWN MACHINE Foa 'FOLDING sTovExlPa BLAuxs s sheets-sheet 3 Filed oct.

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July 26, 1927.

J. M. BROWN MACHINE FOR FOLDING STOVEPIPE BLANKS nl ed oct. e, 1926 5 Sheets-shen 4 "n K A 61 6? f7; ff

` July 26, 1927. 1,636,803

J. M. BROWN HACHINE FOR FOLDING STOVEPIPE BLANKS Filed Oct. 6, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I/ l IN1/[Nm if w Patented July 26, 1927,

JOHN MOOTRY BROWN, OF HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING STOVEPIPE BLANKS.

Application filed October 6, 1926. Serial No. 139,899.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for folding stove pipe blanks and the objectof the invention is to devise a machine which will operate automatically to form, by a series of successive steps, a double fold and an offset in a sheet metal blank placed in the machine. without necessitating any adjustment or attention by the operator between the various steps in the operation of the machine.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following specification.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan viewr of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. is a rear elevation thereof looking in the direction of the arro-w 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof looking in the direction of the arrow 4 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a detached fragmentary section, to a slightly enlarged scale. taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 looking in the direct-ion of the arrows, l

Fig. 6 is a detached fragmentary section taken on the line 6 6 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 11 are fragmentary sections taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 showing the relative posit-ions of the various parts during the successive steps in the operation of the machine.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section of a portion of a stove pipe showing the nat-ure of the completed double fold and offset formed by my machine.

ln the drawings. like characters of refer- ,.,ence indicate corresponding parts in the various views.

In the form illustrated my machine comprises a. main frame or table 8 upon which is supported a superstructure comprising the end frame port-ions 9 connected at the top by longitudinal portion 10.

A main drive shaft 11 is supported upon the main frame` 8 being journalled in bearings 12 and carries at one end a drive pulley 13 and at the other end a gear 14.

For convenience of description this side of the machine shall be referred to as the front while the opposite side shall be referred to as the rear of the machine.

Adjacent to the front. of the machine a shaft 15 is supported by the end frame portions 9 in bearings 16. This shaft'projects somewhat at either end of the machineand carries at the left hand end al gear 17 and at the right hand end a large gear 18 which meshes with the gear 14.

Co-acting between the gear 18 and the shaft 15 is a standard trip clutch 19 whereby the gear may be operatively connected with the shaft.

This clutch is connected by a system7 indicated collectively by the numeral 20, with a foot pedal 21 carried by a shaft 22 in such a manner that when the gears 14 and 18 are rotating, depression of the foot pedal will trip the clutch 19 and operatively connect the gear 18 to the shaft 15 for one revolution at the end of which period the clutch will be automatically disconnected so that 'the gear 18 will rotate freely upon the shaft 1 5 until the pedal 21 is again depressed.

The full and exact detail of this clutch has not been illustrated or described as it may be of any of the standard types well known and used in machine design and since I do not consider it to be novel in any way nor do I claim it as a part of my present invention further description thereof is not thought necessary and the thereof is merely diagrammatic.

Journalled in the end frame portions 9 at the top thereof is a shaft 23 which projects somewhat beyond the left hand end of the frame and carries a gear 24.

Adjacent to the rear of the machine a shaft 25 is supported by the frame portions 9 in bearings 26. This shaft projects some- -f what beyond the left end of the frame and carries a gear 27.

A central bearing 34 is provided for the shaft 25 and a central bearing 35 is provided for the shaft 23.

An idler gear 28 operatively connects the gears 17 and 24, said idler gear being fixed upon a stub shaft 29 which is journalled in bea-rings 30. t

A second idler gear 31 operatively connects the gears 24 and 27, said idler gear being fixed upon a stub shaft 32 which is j ournalled in bearings 33. v

It will thus be seen that the gears 17, 28, 24, 31 and 27 constitute an operatively conillustration j nected gear tra-in so that the shafts l5, 23 and Q rotate in unison.

Extending longitudinally of the machine and freely seated in a recess 36 in the upper face of the table 8 is a bar 37 fitted into one side of which is a face piece 38 which projects Somewhat above the top of the bar.

The bar 37 is resiliently supported from below upon a number of longitudinally spaced apart coil springs 39 the lower ends of which are set in depressions 4l() in the bottom of therecess 36 (see Figs. 4C and 5). These coil Vsprings 89 operate to urge the bar upwardly and to cause it to normally project above the top of the table 8.

Atlongitudinally spaced apart points of the bar 37 are blocks ell slidable in recesses l2 in the rear face of the bar which blocks are urged out ardly by coil springs t3 seated nithin the recesses 4t2, (see Fig. 5).

Extending longitudinally of the top face of the table 8 immediately in front of the piece 38 is a shallow depression or recess it which will be hereinafter referred to.

A substantially horizontally disposed. ram 4:5 is supported above the 'table 8 in front ol the bar 37 which rain is fitted with a face piece L t6 formed with a. V-shaped depression or recess47. y

This ram is vadapt-cd for reciprocation il'orwardly and rearwai-'dly and also for up and down movement as will presently be explained and is supported from below upon pinslS at either end thereof which pins are freely mounted in recesses 49 in the table 8, the pins being urged upwardly by coil springs 5() located within these recesses.

In this way the ram ll5 is normally urged upwardly away from the table 8.-

llixedly carried by the ram -l5 and ei;- tending forwardly therefrom are two arms 5l at the forward extremities of which lare mounted rollers 52.

lFixedly,mounted upon the shaft l5 are two earns 53 positioned to cosoperate with the rollers 52. i

At each end of the rain l5 is a coil spring 5st one end of which is connected to the ram the other being connected to a bracket 55 liXedly carried by the frame.

These springs 54 therefore operate to pull the rain l5 forwardly towards the front of the machine and maintain the rollers 52 in contact with the cams 53 so that during the rotation of the shaft l5 and cams 53 the ram 45 is reciprocated back and forth as the contour of the cams passes over the rollers 52,

in the illustrations in Figs. l to 5 inelusiye the rainll is shown in its innermost or rearmost position. f l

Opposed to the ram 45 Aand located on the opposite side of the bar 37 is a second substantially horizontal rain supported above the table 8 and has litt-ed into its fron;

edge, extending the entire length of the ram, a projecting tongue 57.

his ram 56 is adapted for rcciprocation forwardly and rearwardly and also for up and down movement as will presently be explained and in its rearmost position illustrated in Figs. l to 5 inclusive its forward edge slightly overlies the bar 37 so that this bar forms a support for the front end of this ram. Y

The tongue 57 is so positioned that it will justclear the top of the face piece 88 when the ram 56 moves forwardly.

Fixedly carried by the rain 56 and er;- tending rearwardly therefrom are two arms 58 at the rear extremities of which are mounted rollers 59.

Fixedly mounted upon the shaft 25 are two cams positioned to cof-operate with the rollers 59.

Fixedly carried by the ram 56 and extending rearwardly therefrom are two arms (il provided with cylindrical bearing orifices extending thereinto from the rear ends thereof and engaged within these orifices are plungers (32, the rear ends of which carry bearing blocks G3 in which the shaft 25 is joui-nailed.

At the rear side of the ram 56 are two depending brackets 6l and mounted at the rear side of the table 8 are two upstanding brackets G5.-

Two coil springs 6G have their opposite ends connected to the brackets (il and (35 so that these springs operate to pull the ram 5G rearwardly towards the rear of the machine and to maintain the rollers 59 in contact with the cams 60.

During the rotation of the shaft 25 and earns G0 the ram 56 is reciprocated back and forth as the contour of the cams 60 passes over the rollers and the plungers 62 move in and out within the bearing orifices in the arms (il. Y

It will be .noted that due to the manner of supporting the rear end of the rain 55 by the plungers 62 a certain degree for free-- doni of up and down motion is perniitte'L to the ram 56 the purpose of which will be presently explained.

Mounted upon the underside of tl e ram 56 are rods or bars G7 extending from rear lto front of the ram. the rear end of theseD bars being upturned to overl ie the rear face of the ram and `set screws 58 are mounted iu these upturned portions so as to engage the rear face of the ram and proride a means of adjusting the position of the bars 67 forwardly and rearwardly upon the rain.

The front ends of the bars G7 are offset at 69 to lie in spaced relation below the ram 56 and the forward ends of these offset nortions abut the rear ends of the blocks li the purpose of which will presently be e plained.

For

CRI

ressens Supported di1ectl}.above the shallow rccess la in the table top is a vertical ram 70 extending` longitudinally the full length of the rams l5 and 56 and immediately in 'front ot thisl ram T9 and abutting` thereagainst is another vertical ram 'Tl of the same length as ram TO.

The rams 70 and 'Tl lie alongside of each other and are supported in end guides 72.

The lower end ot the rainl abuts upon the top oit tho ram #l5 and in the position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 in which the vertical rains 70 and Tl are in their topmost position the lower end ot the ram 70 also abuts upon the top ot' the ram l5.

rl`hc abutting` Vt'acesot the rams 70 and 'Tl lie vertically below the shaft 23 and vertical arms 73 and T4 are tixedly secured in recesses T5 and 7G (see Fig. 6) in the-rams TO and 7l respectively which arms'extend upwardly beyond the tops of these rams and carry at their upper ends rollers 7T and 78 respectively.

The rains 'TO and 7l are also notched at 79 and 8O respectively. in their end lac-es. and the end iframes 9 arc each 'formed with a projection Sl (see Fig. G) which engages within these notches and 'forms an additional guide for the rams in their up and down movement. Y

Fixedly carried by the shatt 28 are cams and so positioned as to engage the rollers 'TT and A78 respectively.

Connecting' the upper portion ot ram TO to the top trame member 10 are coil springs Sl (see lli 3) and similarly connectingy the upper portion oit ram il to the top frame member l0 are coil springs 85 (see Fig. 2) which springs operate to draw the rams upwr-.i'dljv and to maintain the rollers 77 and TS in contact with the cams S2 and 83 re- 'ceti-rely.

it will thus be evident that. during' the rotation of the shatt 23 and with it t-he cams SQ and 83. the rams 70 and 'Tl will bc reciprocated up and down.

l'lxtendingr forwardly from the ram Tl are two airis 86 in each kot which is slidably mounted vertical ST having` an enlarged head which bears agr-.inst the top of the arm. The lower end ot cach pin is secured to a holding' down bar S8 and between this bar 88 and the bottom ot the arm S5 are coil springs n i this bar S8 downwardly. The disposition ot these parts is such that wher the ram 'Tl is in its uppermost position 5). the bar 9S is raised to provide between it and the table 8 to `permit the insertion ot the blank as will presently be explained.

At a number ol" longitudinally spaced apa-r-b po' `ts ot the table are mounted arms (see l 5) the lower ends ot which are pivotllyV connected to depending' brackets 9i secured to the under side ot the table S,

lThese arms 9(1) `project at an inclination upwardly through orifices 92 in the table and are normally resiliently maintained in their uppermost position by springs 93 en circlingbolts 94, the upper ends ot the bolts in the operation ot inserting ity into position il' within the machine.

it stop or gaugeQS (see l) is mounted upon the table at the front ot the machine and is held in position by bolts 99, these bolts engaging slots 100 in the table, said slots being' provided to enable the position ot the stop 9S to be adjusted to suit requirements.

The operation ol' myA machine is as follows:

A. belt would be engaged upon the main drive pulley 13 so` that whenever the machine is being;l operated the shaft ll and gea-rs 14" and 18"'would be continuously rotated but the'drive to the shatt l5 and gear train 17, 28, 24, 3l, 27 would only be connected each time the toot pedal 2l was dcpressed and this connection would be main- .tained Yt'or one complete revolution of the rear 1S at the end ot which the clutch 19 would automatically trip and vdisconnect this drive until the foot pedal 2l is again depressed.

The relation of the various parts is such that one complete revolution 'of the gear 18 operates the various parts ot the machine through a complete cycle of steps -to complete the formation of the double 'told and offset in the blank atter which it is remored and another blank inserted.

The various parts oit the machine are initially in the kpositions illustrated lullige. l, 2, 3, t, 5 and 7 and with the parts in these positions a sheet metal blank 97 is inserted from the front of the machine.

Since inthis position the holding down ,Y Y bar 88 is raised above the table, the blank 9T may be treely passed thereunder.

In its passage inwardly or rearwardly the rbla-nk 9T is directed upw rdly bythe arms 90 'so as toV pass upwardly above the tace piece 38 and tongue 57.

The blank 97 is properly positioned by engaging its front edge against the stop 98 which stop will have lbeen adjusted for the particular size of blank being operated upon.V

The position of the blank after insertion isa-s shown vin Figs. 5 and 7. i

The. toot pedal 21 is now depressed to operatively connect vthe gear 18 to the sha-tt l5 and the following successive steps automatically occur in forming the double told and offset, which steps will be more clearly understood by reference in Figs. 7 to ll inelusive.

ln the first step the ram 7l descends forcing downwardly the ram so that the face piece 46 bends the blank against the piece 36 into the 'form shown in Fig. 6. At the end of this step the relative positions of the various parts are as shown in Fig. 6, the rams 56 and ZO having remained Stationary.

ln this step the bar 3"( is prevented 'from descending by the engagement of the pro` jecting blocks 4l upon the table 8.

Also in this operation as the ram 45 descend its supporting pins 46 are depressed into the recesses 49 in the table against the pressure ot the springs 50.

VTWhen the ram 7l descends, the holding down bar 86 (see Fig. engages the top ace of the blank 97 and is held iirmly thereagainst by the springs 89 so that the blank '97 is firmly held in position upon the table.

In the next step the ram 56 moves torwardly so that the tongue 57 thereof iorces the blank into the V-shaped depression or recess 47 in the ram 45 bending the blank to conform to the shape of this depression. In this step the rams 45, 70 and 71 remain stationary and at the completion of the step the relative positions ot the parts are as illustrated in Fig. 9. p

Also in this step in its forward movement the ram 56 carries with it the bars 67 so that the oilset Y tomi/ard ends 69 thereof depress the blocks 4l into the bar 37 against the pressure ot the springs 43.

ln the next step the ram 7l rises up a very slight amount just sutlicient to relieve the pressure upon the ram 45 and this ram 45 withdraws forwardly to disengage the blank 9T from within the V-shaped depression 47. In this step the rams 56 and TO remain stationary and at the completion ot the step the'relative positions of the parts are as illustrated in Fig. l0.

ln the next step the ram "4"() descends and completes the 'formation of the double :told and offset by flattening the bent portion of the blank and forcing it down into the shallow depression 44 in the table. ln this operation the ram 56 remains in its forward mest position but descends slightly being forced downwardly by the rain 70, which dv scent Vis permitted by the dowmvard inerement oit the bar 3"? against the pressure et the springs The bar 37 is new tree to be forced downwardly since the blocks 4l are depressed thereinto and no longer project to engage the top of the table 8.

ln this operation the tongue 57 remains within the told of the blank so that this portion et the told is not closed but is lett ope-n.

In the next and inal step the ram 70 rises permitting the ram 56 and bar 37 to rise and the rain 56 withdraws rearwardly to its initial position permitting the blocks 4l to again project from the bar 37 and the cycle ot steps is completed with all parts returned to their initial relative positions shown in Figs. 5 and after which the blank is removed and the machine is ready `for the insertion of another blank.

rlhe form of the completely formed blank is shown in Fig. 12.

It will thus be noted that the double fold and oil'set is formed in the blank in my machine by a series of successive automatic steps requiring no attention by the operator beyond inserting the blank and setting the machine in operation by depressing the toot pedal.

llrom the foregoing it will be evident invention without departing from the spirit thereofor the scope of the claims and theretore the exact forms shown are to be taken illustrative only and not in a limiting sense and l desire that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or are speci Fically set :forth in the appended claims.

Vlffhat l claim asV my invention is:

l. fr machine for folding stove pipe blanks comprising a main table, a pair oil opposed substantially horizontal rains supported above the table and movable both horizontally and vertically, one of said rams lormed with a depression in its tace and 'the other ram with a projecting tongue adapted to move into said depression, a vertical rainV movable vertically above the table between. the opposed rams, the table `formed with a depression positioned vertically below the vertical ram and means for automatically operating said rams at predetermined intervals to constitute a complete cycle ot formoperations.

2. A machine for folding stove pipe blanks comprising a main table 8, a pair of opposed. sul'istantially horizontal rams 45 and :E6 supported above the table and movable beth horizontally and vertically, the rain 435 termed with a depression 4T in its tace and the ram 56 formed with a projecting tongue 5?' adapted to move into the depression 471 a V.ertical ram 70 movable vertically Yabove the table and between the opposed rams 45 and 56, the table formed with a depression 44 positioned vertically below the ram 70, a horizontally disposed bar 37 resiliently mounted in a recess 36 in the table and normally projectingabove the table, said bar forming a support for the rain 561, means for locking said bar in 'lll lll

its uppermost posit-ion when the ram 56 is in one position, and means for permitting depression of said bar when the ram 56 is in another position, and means for automatically operating said rams at predetermined intervals to constitute a complete cycle ot' forming operations.

3. A machine for folding stove pipe blanks comprising a main table 8, a pair of opposed substantially horizontal rams 45 and 56 supported above the table and movable both horizontally and vertically, the ram 45 formed with a. depression 47 in its face and the ram 56 formed with a projecting tongue 57 adapted to move into the depression 47, a vertical ram 70 mov` able vertically above the table and between the opposed rams 45 vand 56, the table formed with a depression 44 positioned vertically below the ram 70, a horizontally disposed bar 37 resiliently mounted in a recess 36 in the table and normally projecting above the table, said bar forming a support :tor the ram 56, blocks 4l slidably mounted in recesses 42 in said bar 37, springs 46 mounted in the recesses 42 and normally urging said blocks outwardly to project beyond the bar 37, the under face of said projecting blocks resting upon the table to lock the bar in its uppermost position, and elements 69 carried by the ram 56 Jfor depressing said blocks 4l into the bar to permit depression of the bar into the recess in the table, and means for automatically operatingsaid rams at predetermined intervals to constitute a complete cycle of forming operations.

4. A machine for folding` stove pipe blanks comprising a main table 8, a pair ot' opposed substantially horizontal rams 45 and 56 supported above the table and movable both horizontally and vertically, the ram 45 formed with a depression 47 in its face andthe ram 56 formed with a projecting tongue 57 adapted to move into the depression 47, vertical ram 70 movable vertically above the table and between the opposed rams 45 and 56, a vertical ram 7l abutting the top of the ram 45 and adapted to depress said ram towards the table, the table formed with a depression 44 positioned vertically below the ram 70, a horizontally disposed bar 37 resiliently mounted in a recess 36 in the table and normally projecting above the table, said bar forming a support for the ram 56, means for locking said bar in its uppermost position when the ram 56 is in one position and means for permitting` depression of said bar when the ram 56 is in another position, and means tor automatically operating said rams at predetermined intervals to constitute a com plete cycle ot forming operations.

5. A machine :tor folding stove pipe blanks comprising a main table S, a pair of opposed substantially horizontal rams 45A and 56 supported above the table and movable both horizontally and vertically, the ram 45 formed with a depression 47 in its face and the ram 56 formed with a projecting tongue 57 adapted to move into the depression 47, a vert-ical ram 70 movable vertically above the table and between the opposed rams 45 and 56, a vertical ram7l abutting the top of the ram 45 and adapted to depress said ram towards the table, holding down means carried by the ram 7l and adapted to resiliently engage the table top when said ram is in its lowermost position, the table formed with a depression 44 positioned vertically below the ram 70, a horizontally disposed bar 37 resiliently mounted in a recess 36 in the table and normally projecting above the table, said bar forming a support for the ram 56, means for locking said bar in its uppermost position when the ram 56 is in one position and means for permitting` repression of said bar when the ram 56 is in another position, and means for automatically operating said rams at predetermined intervals to contitute a complete cycle of forming operations.

JOHN MOOTRY BROWN. 

